Essential Home DIY Jobs That Save You Money
With spring slowly creeping upon us and winter saying its goodbyes, now is the perfect time to get those much-needed home improvement jobs that you’ve been putting off all winter completed!
07/03/2021
With spring slowly creeping upon us and winter saying its goodbyes, now is the perfect time to get those much-needed home improvement jobs that you’ve been putting off all winter completed!
Now, we know that any work on your home immediately sparks thoughts of money and spending but they don’t always have to. That’s why we have come up with these essential home DIY jobs that you can do that can also save you money. Yes, you read right, save you money! Well, in the long run at least.
Here’s our checklist of home DIY jobs that you need to do in the spring.
Spring DIY jobs that you shouldn’t put off any longer
For the large part, these home maintenance jobs do not require much overhaul but be weary, neglecting these small tasks any longer than you already have could cause them to snowball into much costlier and more serious problems.
Try to find a good balance between jobs that you can handle yourself and jobs that may require a little budget for a skilled professional to take care of. By keeping on top of them and catching them in the early stages, you could well end up spending far less money than if you were to leave them until later.
So, let’s get to it…
1. Fix your fence and woodwork
The first job on our list is to inspect your fence and any other woodwork that you have on your property. These can take a real battering during the winter thanks to the increased number of storms, so this is always a good place to start. Look out for any holes or cracks that have appeared in your panels. These are usually fairly cheap to replace but if left, the damage could lead to further spread and end up costing you a lot more to fix in the future.
2. Inspect your pipes
Your property’s pipework can also take a real hit during the winter thanks to the cold weather, causing damage and blockages. So, these will next to be looked over next. It’s relatively cheap to buy a good pipe cleaning kit and some solution to give your pipes the care they need. It’s also pretty affordable to call a professional to have them checked and cleaned properly. Any blockage that might occur as a result of not checking them after the winter may mean a whole new system is needed which could end up costing you a whole lot more.
3. Check the roof
Next on our list is to check your roof. You can start this by carrying out an interior check from your loft, looking out for any signs of leaking, cracks and damage that might have occurred over the winter. Once this has been done, it’s time to make your way up top. Grab yourself a ladder and head up, looking out for any loose shingles and tiles and any signs of damage.
A small amount of damage to the roof can be quick and cheap to repair but if left, it can become a huge expense by spreading to other parts. So, it’s vital your roof is checked and sorted as quick as possible.
4. Clean gutters and downpipes
During bad periods of weather, a lot of dirt and debris can build up in your gutters and downpipes, leading to blockages that not only cause damage to the sides of your house but your property’s foundations too. Therefore, it is also important that these are cleared as soon as the weather picks up.
Grab a ladder, bucket, some gloves and your garden hose and start clearing away anything that has become lodged over the winter. Once cleared, run your hose down your gutter and downpipes to wash away anything that may have been missed. You can also hire a professional fairly cheaply. Leaving them, however, may lead to the whole gutter and downpipes being replaced which will cost you hundreds!
5. Repoint your brickwork
The last job on our list in to repoint the brickwork of your home. This acts as the primary defence against any bad weather, so throughout the winter, this can take a real beating. Especially during the freeze and thaw process which can cause the pointing between the bricks to degrade. Here you can grab yourself a sturdy scaffold platform and get to work. Alternatively, you can again hire a professional to do the job for you which will set you back a little but not as much as it will if left and the entire house will need to be repointed!
These may seem like big jobs but rolling up your sleeves or parting with a bit of cash for maintenance is far cheaper than leaving it until a small repair job becomes a massive one. Tackling these now prevents bigger headaches and cash outlays further down the line!